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APS TOGETHER

Day 38

The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni

Chapter 30

March 30, 2023 by Michael F. Moore

Notice how Manzoni depicts mass movements, from the mob in Milan attacking the bakeries to the sea of refugees fleeing their homes:

“Although most people were streaming in from the opposite end of the valley, our three refugees started to run into fellow travelers and fellows in misfortune, who had entered or were entering the main road from various crossroads and footpaths. Any person you meet in such circumstances seems like an old acquaintance.”


Don Abbondio presumes to teach the two women etiquette (“creanza,” in Italian, from the Spanish “crianza,” which could also be translated as “breeding”—nope—or “good manners”):

“Proper etiquette is not saying anything that might upset someone, especially someone who’s not used to hearing criticism… Weigh your words, and above all, speak little, and only when necessary. With your mouth shut you’ll never be wrong.”

I wonder what Perpetua is about to say before being interrupted. In Italian, “Fa peggio lei con tutte codeste sue…”


In this buildup to the next chapter, we find more references to storytelling:

“Every day brought a new tale of catastrophe. Some, storytellers by profession, diligently collected all the rumors, sifted through them, and conveyed their essence to the others.”

And the tailor’s remark:

“After a disaster like this, there’s enough material for a few books!”


The full scale of the devastation left by the Landsknechts in a single image:

“When they got there, they found not the body but the empty grave.”

Daily Reading

A Preview

A Preview

Day 1

Introduction & Chapter 1 (through pg. 13: "were still around.")

Day 2

Chapter 1 (to end)

Day 3

Chapter 2

Day 4

Chapter 3

Day 5

Chapter 4

Day 6

Chapter 5

Day 7

Chapter 6

Day 8

Chapter 7 (through p.108: “respective ranks.”)

Day 9

Chapter 7 (to end)

Day 10

Chapter 8 (through p.130: “the others filed behind him.”)

Day 11

Chapter 8 (to end)

Day 12

Chapter 9 (through p.151: “are also quite capable.”)

Day 13

Chapter 9 (to end)

Day 14

Chapter 10 (through p.174: “her closest relatives.”)

Day 15

Chapter 10 (to end)

Day 16

Chapter 11 (through p.193: “keep track of it.")

Day 17

Chapter 11 (to end)

Day 18

Chapter 12

Day 19

Chapter 13

Day 20

Chapter 14

Day 21

Chapter 15

Day 22

Chapter 16

Day 23

Chapter 17

Day 24

Chapter 18

Day 25

Chapter 19

Day 26

Chapter 20

Day 27

Chapter 21

Day 28

Chapter 22

Day 29

Chapter 23

Day 30

Chapter 24 (through p.396: “as soon as you’re ready.”)

Day 31

Chapter 24 (to end)

Day 32

Chapter 25

Day 33

Chapter 26

Day 34

Chapter 27

Day 35

Chapter 28 (through p.467: “their hands from hunger.”)

Day 36

Chapter 28 (to end)

Day 37

Chapter 29

Day 38

Chapter 30

Day 39

Chapter 31

Day 40

Chapter 32 (through p.534: “purpose of the conflict.”)

Day 41

Chapter 32 (to end)

Day 42

Chapter 33 (through p.554: “treatise on political economy.”)

Day 43

Chapter 33 (to end)

Day 44

Chapter 34 (through p.574: “the living were left.”)

Day 45

Chapter 34 (to end)

Day 46

Chapter 35

Day 47

Chapter 36

Day 48

Chapter 37

Day 49

Chapter 38


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